Donating my birthday

It is this time of the year again! Every June 8th I am reminded how much I am loved, blessed and surrounded. My Facebook wall receives more than 100 “Happy Birthday” messages. Reading the names of those who thought about me on this day overwhelms me with joy.

In 2011, I deactivated my Facebook wall and featured one status in order divert my birthday traffic towards sites of human rights organizations. The outcome was amazing – at least for me. I enjoyed sharing all the love I received with all the causes I support.

This year I want to shed light on the work of the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health – LebMASH.

Please donate as little as 10 minutes of your time to learn more about LebMASH:

Founded in Oct. 2012, LebMASH strives to advance health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and sexual health of all individuals in Lebanon. In 2013, LebMASH played a key role in depathologization of homosexuality in Lebanon and banning the practice of “conversion or reparative therapy” by psychiatrists. This year LebMASH co-organized 3 medical conferences in Beirut on LGBT health partnering with: the Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA), St. Joseph University (USJ) and the American University of Beirut (AUB). These events were the first of their kind in the region.

In addition to the work being done locally, LebMASH is establishing a presence on the global front for LGBT health care. LebMASH was invited to the World Bank spring meetings in Washington, DC to advocate for implementation of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) safeguards for developmental projects of the World Bank. LebMASH has also been involved in advocacy work for inclusion of LGBT health item on the agenda of the World Health Organization (WHO).

I am passionate about this work and confident about the positive impact it will have on the lives of many in Lebanon. I believe in the importance of LebMASH’s mission and I invest enough time in it that I jokingly call it my second “full time job.”

Thank you for your 10 minutes. It is indeed a great gift.

LebMASH and LPA conference on Homosexuality at Crowne Plaza, Beirut – May 2014

LebMASH at USJ conference on homosexuality – May 2014

LebMASH at AUB conference on LGBT health – May 2014

Don’t forget to wish my mother a happy Birthing day, June 8 is as special for her as it is for me.